Human Language Should Not Be Traced Like Computer Code

I found myself saying the title in an online conversation over on reddit. It was an admonition to myself regarding trouble I often have in communicating with humans both online and in meat space. I tend to be very literal minded. So, I read and listen to human language the same way I would read computer code. Even worse, I expect others to do the same with my speech and especially my writing, which I’ve had time to edit and make it say exactly what I want. (Though, yes, sometimes I’m less careful.)

Anyway, on that reddit post, I suggested that I should write “human language should not be traced like computer code” 500 times on the blackboard, or until I believe it. So, here goes. There’s more of this post below, so please scroll.

[EDIT] I’m updating this post because, as ECA pointed out below, this may not be clear to everyone. To trace computer code means to follow paths through the program and imagine how the computer will execute each line of code. It is a very literal and exact way of reading the program. Often, doing this before running the code can find bugs before they even happen. Programmers in good programming environments often hand their programs to each other to review. Or, they might work together over a single screen with the person not typing reviewing and tracing the code as the other person types it. This last is not a quiet or unnecessary exercise. I promise. Thanks ECA for helping me with exactly the type of communication with which I have trouble.

Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.
Human language should not be traced like computer code.

OK. What may be worse than the fact that I actually did this is that I did it using an emacs keyboard macro. And, since my macro kept doubling the number of times this was written, it’s actually 512 times.

And, I’m anal-retentive enough to say so.

So, who thinks that both the fact that I do trace human language like computer code and expect others to do the same could be a part of the problems I sometimes have communicating with others?

Who thinks the fact that I am anal-retentive enough to note that there are 512 occurrences of the text above (not counting the title, which makes 513, though it’s not exactly the same string, being in camel-case and unpunctuated) only makes matters worse?

Worse still, I actually went back to see exactly what I typed on reddit 13 days ago. It was:

Human speech shouldn’t be traced like computer code. Perhaps I should write that on the blackboard 500 times or until I believe it.

It was only on rethinking this for this post that I decided that all forms of human language, not just speech, should not be traced like computer code.

Finally, while I do understand this intellectually, no, I still don’t really believe it. I’m still a geek.

Share this:

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

This entry was posted on Friday, September 26th, 2014 at 05:50 and is filed under Humor, Philosophy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Post navigation

5 Responses to Human Language Should Not Be Traced Like Computer Code

Interesting…and abit stupid.
Human language is HARD to trace.
We can go back only so far. but Influences from OUTSIDe the language make things change.
Am. English is a conglomeration…of at least 4-7 languages.
Yes there are ROOTS, to certain languages, but its not ANGLO-SAXON anymore, then Im American..(American as I interpret it). Im a current american.
And as TIME changes, and THINGS change, our language will change..ALOT.. Go back 100 years and TRY to undersntad a few of the colloquial speech..they will burn you at the STAKE, as soon as you open your mouth. Dont even TRY for 200 years or more..
Youo may get the gest of speech, and it would take abit of time, but you could blend in after a while.

But lets compare computer language from 30+ years ago, to NOW.. What took 100 lines of code BACK them takes 10?, but we have recorded history. I used to know 6 computer languages. forget it now.. you NEED 6-7 NET languages just to wonder the net..
Do you know what SPREAD english Faster around the world? PROGRAMMING.. The Language is spelled the same, its the Translations for interaction..Bill said=”this is a duck” is not this is a duck in other languages. but the Programming is the SAME..

Yes. We should trace the history of human language. It’s an interesting area of study and can also tell us a lot about the migrations of humans over time.

As for spreading English, yes. Programming did some of it. But, perhaps a bit less than you think. In college, I came across a text book someone had left behind. It was a text book on programming in the computer language Pascal.

The code was the same, as you say. All of the reserved words (BEGIN, END, IF, THEN, …) were in English.

The rest of the text was in Chinese. Perhaps because of the culture or perhaps because of the skills necessary to learn to read Chinese, the Chinese students, in particular, were really able to learn programming without necessarily learning as much English as you’d expect. Reserved words can just be large extended characters.

Yes, since they were learning computer science in this country, they had to learn English to understand the professors. But, not as much was needed to understand the code as you might expect.

What spread English far more and faster than programming computers was using them to get on the internet.

Explanation of what I meant by tracing computer code:

To trace computer code has completely different meaning.

If you imagine reading a computer program and mentally thinking of the paths the computer might take, or in the case of debugging with known values actually imagining the specific path the computer will take as it executes the code, that is what I meant by tracing.

Consider this snippet of pseudocode in no actual computer language.

for i from 0 to 9 {
if (i > 3) {
print "foo"
}
else {
print "bar"
}
}

What will it do? To answer the question, you must trace the code.

Answer: Given that this is not real code, I can’t be sure that my mythical compiler would include 9 in the loop. On the assumption that it would, the answer is that it would print 4 “bar”s followed by 6 “foo”s.

When humans speak or write or sign (if I understood ASL), I tend to parse it out very literally and exactly, as I would do for computer code. It is a mistake to take human language that literally. It is a mistake I make again and again and again.

Q: Why did the computer programmer die in the shower?
A: “Lather, rinse, repeat” is an infinite loop.

Groan or is that Grown?
Language is oral and or written expression of ideas, assuming that the mind/voice executing the sounds and mind/hand drawing the calligraphy is significantly mature enough to have cogent ideas!
Now above and beyond the bare minimum of comprehension is the requirement to use the mind to reflect on the potential alternate meanings and deviousities of the author! Hence interpretation is not only mandatory, but critical to full comprehension!

Agreed, hence my admission that I often have trouble communicating with humans. It’s also why I can get sucked into silly practical jokes like claiming one is a cocaine addict for no apparent reason that I’ve been able to determine. I genuinely did believe that little prank of bobbo’s.

I have a friend, 1/2 my age, and he tends to like talking to me..I make him think.
He wasnt Diagnosed with Dyslexia(My fingers cant spell).. And had problems in school.
I have suggested that he read BOOKS/COMICS/ANYTHING..it DOES help. as well as finding what HELPS, as there are ways to help MOST with this problem.
Iv shown him Word/mind games.. And Many of my friends know I like playing with words/meaning and so forth.
And I tell my friend..MORE then ANYTHING..its NOT what you say, its HOW you say it.. You can make anything Offensive.
MAKE simple Comments, NOT to word things to get others in trouble in answer/commenting.. (HATE politics, and answering women) And he has learned its easier to BOW OUT, of a comment, then to Answer a LOADED question.
He hasnt taken up reading..but he is learning his Problem.

I belive that the AMERICAN language, could be SIMPLIFIED, as well as spelled better.
Its SAID, that WEBSTER, created the first Dictionaries, and definitions/pronunciations..AND HE HATED the brits. so he changed things around.(lets change the bible, mentality)

In recent history..
ORAL history has gone away..Oral is better for recent history and knowledge.
WRITTEN history is long term. Its to PASS information around, and have it STAY AROUND(beware of TXT’ing..) its great for writting something ONE time and passing it around to MANY.. and is good reference if something happens.
WRITTEN information is KING, in a democracy.
Video Is MASTER in a democracy..
Video is great, but the formats/storage become obsolete..and corrupt.
The Problem with Written information is it gets BURIED.. I believe information SHOULD BE FREE(love you Youtube/internet)